EdsSAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Brazil's Superior Tribunal of Sports Justice on Sunday ordered the replay of 11 league matches officiated by a referee who admitted he took part in a match-fixing scheme.

Tribunal president Luiz Zveiter annulled the results of all matches refereed by Edilson Pereira de Carvalho because of his confession to authorities that he accepted bribes from gamblers to assure the outcomes of games.

"He contaminated all these matches,'' Zveiter said.

"Fans have been harmed ... and that was the least traumatic thing we could do to make things right.''

Zveiter said there would be free admission to the new matches.

With the decision, three-time national champion Corinthians, which was second before the cancellations, became the new leader of the Brazilian league, replacing Internacional atop the 22-team standings.

Corinthians maintained the lead after a 3-2 victory over Brasiliense later Sunday in Sao Paulo, while Inter fell to third after being held to a 2-2 home draw against Fluminense in Porto Alegre.

The Brazilian Soccer Confederation already has rescheduled eight of the matches, and reaffirmed the competition would not be stopped.

Carvalho, who has been suspended by FIFA, was arrested eight days ago after the national news weekly Veja reported on a federal investigation into a corruption scheme run by Internet betting sites.

Veja published transcripts of telephone conversations between Carvalho and businessman Nagib Fayad recorded by authorities.

Carvalho guaranteed that Vasco would beat Figueirense in a league match he officiated on Aug. 7.

Vasco won 2-1 with a controversial penalty kick by veteran striker Romario.

Carvalho, who has been charged with fraud and criminal association, confessed to taking part in the scheme and was released from jail on Thursday.

Fayad also was released after authorities said he cooperated with the investigation.

Another Brazilian referee, Paulo Jose Danelon, also admitted he took bribes to alter results in the traditional Sao Paulo state championship earlier this year.

There had been no decision on the matches he officiated, Zveiter said.

On Friday, a man who allegedly acted as the link between the Internet gambling sites and the referees was taken into custody by federal police.

Vanderlei Pololi is accused of being the man who delivered envelopes to the referees containing 10,000 reals (US$4,500; euro3,800) for each fixed match.

Pololi denies all charges.

The CBF announced Friday that a new commission to oversee referees would be created to check performances during matches as well as behavior off the field.

Also Friday, the president of the national commission of referees, Armando Marques, resigned from his post because of the scandal.

Former referee Edson Resende replaced him. - AP

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